Oticon Celebrates 100 Years of Hearing Care with Scholarship Awards to 100 U.S. Audiology Students

Oticon, Inc. today announced the names of the 100 outstanding audiology students who have been selected to receive scholarships as part of the company's 100th anniversary celebration. The winning students, representing over 45 graduate programs in Audiology across the country, submitted essays addressing the question, "Why is a people-oriented profession still relevant in an increasingly technology-oriented society?" Oticon has awarded a total of $60,000 in scholarships to the students, all of whom are full-time graduate-level students at accredited U.S. academic institutions.

"We are pleased to support and encourage outstanding students who share our vision that successful hearing solutions require the skilled expertise of dedicated hearing care professionals," stated Mikael Worning, President of Oticon, Inc. "The scholarship awards are truly an investment in the future of audiology and reaffirm Oticon's commitment to working with hearing care professionals to put the needs and preferences of people with hearing loss first."

Many of the winning students characterized hearing care professionals as a critical "bridge" connecting the patient to information and technology. Erin McAlister of the University of Maryland wrote that, "Even the most impressive hearing aid technology is only beneficial to the extent that it can be successfully integrated into an individual's life. It is at this cross road of human need and audiological promise that people-oriented professionals such as audiology assume some of their most important roles." For Emily Anne Bondus of Purdue University, "Aural rehabilitation and the support of other humans contribute more than any users' manual in coping with a hearing loss." The viewpoint of Arizona State University's Kendell Vincent was shared by a number of the scholarship recipients: "A hearing aid treats a patient's loss, but an audiologist has the ability to treat the whole person."

Funding for the scholarship program is provided by Oticon, Inc. and the Oticon Foundation, which is funded by income derived from its ownership of the majority of shares in the Oticon Company.

About Oticon

Oticon, one of the world's oldest and most respected hearing aid manufacturers, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2004. The company was founded in Copenhagen in 1904 by Hans Demant, inspired by a desire to help his hearing impaired wife and others like her. Today, Oticon is located in over 20 countries, providing quality, state-of-the-art hearing instruments to people worldwide. A pioneer in digital technology, Oticon continues to develop and manufacture the newest, most technologically advanced hearing instruments to help people with hearing loss "live the lives they want, with the hearing they have." The company's commitment to put People First in designing quality hearing care solutions is made stronger through partnership with dedicated and caring hearing care professionals in countries around the world.

About The Oticon Foundation

Founded in 1957, the Oticon Foundation sponsors social and educational programs, publications, conferences, cultural activities and campaigns - both for researchers, hearing care professionals and the general public. The Foundation's statutes mandate that income be used to support the needs of hearing-impaired individuals as well as organizations that serve people with hearing loss.

To visit the Oticon Website, click here.